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<blockquote data-quote="Nevvur" data-source="post: 7347851" data-attributes="member: 6783882">I take slightly different approaches handling attacks against PCs and attacks against NPCs. For the former, I usually just describe the attack and declare damage, rather than describing exactly what the damage looks like. Leaves plenty of space for the players to fill in the blanks with their imagination. I say, &quot;The dire wolf lunges at you from behind and chomps down on your leg. Take 8 damage.&quot; Paladin Pat's player might picture the wolf wrenching his knee a bit, but the teeth don't pierce his metal greaves. Wizard Will's player might picture the wolf's teeth sinking into his flesh. I say, &quot;The goblin lets loose an arrow, and its aim is true. Take 5 damage.&quot; Randy Rogue can pretend he dodges in the nick of time, but his luck is running out. Carrie Cleric can decide it's a glancing blow off her half-plate, but she's getting exhausted dancing around like this. And so on. If the player wants to narrate what the damage looks like, that's fine by me, but it usually doesn't happen. For the latter, I usually describe a hit as a hit, in all its bloody, gory detail (moderated by the % of max HP done). I hand over that narrative to the player when its a KO. Once in awhile the bad guys have a healer and one or more baddies who I grant death saving throws. In those cases I might retcon a player narrative if their description would make healing impossible, e.g. decapitation. I'm also open about my intent so as to prevent any hard feelings. &quot;Hey Jon, this guy isn't your run of the mill mook, and I decided beforehand he gets death saving throws. There's also a healer in the enemy group. How about you just run him through the gut instead of chopping off his head?&quot; This sort of situation has only come up three times over 150ish sessions, and in none of those cases did the player seem deflated.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Nevvur, post: 7347851, member: 6783882"] I take slightly different approaches handling attacks against PCs and attacks against NPCs. For the former, I usually just describe the attack and declare damage, rather than describing exactly what the damage looks like. Leaves plenty of space for the players to fill in the blanks with their imagination. I say, "The dire wolf lunges at you from behind and chomps down on your leg. Take 8 damage." Paladin Pat's player might picture the wolf wrenching his knee a bit, but the teeth don't pierce his metal greaves. Wizard Will's player might picture the wolf's teeth sinking into his flesh. I say, "The goblin lets loose an arrow, and its aim is true. Take 5 damage." Randy Rogue can pretend he dodges in the nick of time, but his luck is running out. Carrie Cleric can decide it's a glancing blow off her half-plate, but she's getting exhausted dancing around like this. And so on. If the player wants to narrate what the damage looks like, that's fine by me, but it usually doesn't happen. For the latter, I usually describe a hit as a hit, in all its bloody, gory detail (moderated by the % of max HP done). I hand over that narrative to the player when its a KO. Once in awhile the bad guys have a healer and one or more baddies who I grant death saving throws. In those cases I [I]might[/I] retcon a player narrative if their description would make healing impossible, e.g. decapitation. I'm also open about my intent so as to prevent any hard feelings. "Hey Jon, this guy isn't your run of the mill mook, and I decided beforehand he gets death saving throws. There's also a healer in the enemy group. How about you just run him through the gut instead of chopping off his head?" This sort of situation has only come up three times over 150ish sessions, and in none of those cases did the player seem deflated. [/QUOTE]

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